Seven African-American female service members who made history

Charity Adams Earley

In 1945, history was made when the first all-black female battalion in the world was sent from the U.S. to serve in parts of Europe during the Second World War.

Known as the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion, the all-black female battalion of the Women’s Army Corps was sent to parts of France and England to organize and direct mail to U.S. servicemen which had gone undelivered.

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Charity Adams Earley was the commanding officer of the all-black female battalion, making her commander of the first and only all-female, all-black army unit. Growing up in Columbia, South Carolina, Earley had joined the WAC when it was created in 1942. She worked as a staff training officer, a station control officer, and a company commander before being promoted to major and later chosen to be the commander of the 6888th Central Postal Battalion.